Behind the Books: A Secret Project
Here’s a hint. Here’s another hint. If I told you any more . . . it wouldn’t be a secret.
Behind the Books: Nonfiction Writers Aren’t Robots
I’m excited to host award-winning author and poet Laura Purdie Salas, who has an important message for us to consider. Thanks, Laura. I try not to take it personally, but there’s a common, crushing misconception that fiction is creative writing drawn from the depths of a writer’s soul, while nonfiction is simply a recitation of […]
Behind the Books: Looking Forward, Looking Back
Twenty years ago, my very first book was published. Life Without Light: A Journey to Earth’s Dark Ecosystems was a nonfiction YA title that explored the fledgling scientific study of little-know creatures that eke out an existence deep inside caves, around hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor, on the walls of underground aquifers, and within rocky […]
Behind the Books: Writing STEM Picture Books, Part 9
Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been discussing the ins and outs of writing STEM picture books, including its key craft elements. (Scroll down to read earlier posts in this discussion.) Today I’m going to finish up by talking about point of view. Traditionally, all nonfiction for children was written with third-person narration, but […]
Behind the Books: Writing STEM Picture Books, Part 8
Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been discussing the ins and outs of writing STEM picture books, including its key craft elements. (Scroll down to read earlier posts in this discussion.) Today I’m going to focus on nonfiction voice. What exactly is nonfiction voice? It’s the personality of the writing. It’s how the writing […]
Behind the Books:Writing STEM Picture Books, Part 7
Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been discussing the ins and outs of writing STEM picture books, including its key craft elements. (Scroll down to read earlier posts in this discussion.) Today I’m going to talk about text format. Life stories usually have simple running text like a fiction book, but concept books are […]
Behind the Books: Writing STEM Picture Books, Part 6
Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been discussing the ins and outs of writing STEM picture books, including its key craft elements. (Scroll down to read earlier posts in this discussion.) Today I’m going to focus on text structure. Common Core espouses six major text structures. But in truth there are many more. Nearly […]
Behind the Books: Writing STEM Picture Books, Part 5
For the last month, I’ve been discussing the ins and outs of writing STEM picture books, including its key craft elements. (Scroll down to read earlier posts in this discussion.) Today I’m going to talk about writing style. There are two nonfiction writing styles—narrative or expository. Here are some examples: Life stories generally have a […]
Behind the Books: Writing STEM Picture Books, Part 4
For the last few weeks, I’ve been discussing the surprising amount of time it can take to write a STEM picture book. Staying the course requires patience and passion. For me, passionate nonfiction starts with a question. It also needs to have a personal connection and irresistible hook. (Scroll down for a full discussion of […]
Behind the Books: Writing STEM Picture Books, Part 3
For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been discussing the surprising amount of time it can take to write a STEM picture book. Staying the course requires patience and passion. For me, passionate nonfiction starts with a question. It also needs to have a personal connection. (Scroll down for a full discussion of these characteristics.) […]